Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-08
fcoNTINUED.)
CHAPTER XII.
AUNT DERRY brill.

CHAPTER XII
AUNT DEBBY BRILL.
It was nearly noon when Harry awoke.
The awakening came slowly and with pain.
In all his previous experiences he had had no
hint even Of such mental and bodily exhaus
ion as now oppressed him. Every muscle
and tendon was aching a bitter complaint
against the strain it had been subjected to the
Law before. Dull, pulseless pain smoldered in
some; in others it was the keen throb of the
toothache Continued lying in one position
was uncomfortable; changing it, thrill of an
guish, and the new posture as lntolerablc Us
the first His brain CALLED and twinged as did
his BODY. To think was as acute pain as TO
use his sinews. Yet he could not help think
ing any more than he could help turning in
bed. though TO turn was torture.
Every organ of thought was bruised and
sore. The fearful events of the day before
would continue to thrust themselves upon his
mind. To put them out required painful eff
fort; to recall and comprehend them was even
worse Rejecting upon them now, with I'M
strung nerves, made them seem hundred
fold more terrible than when they were the
spontaneous offspring of hot blood. With the
reflection came the thoughts that this was but
prelude-an introduction-to an infinitely
horrible saturnalia of violence and blood
through which he was to be hurried until re
leased by his own destruction. This became
a nightmare that threatened to stagnate the
blood in his veins He gasped, turned bis hack
10 the wall with an effort that thrilled him
with pain. and opened his eyes.
Naught that he saw reminded him of the
preceding day. Sunny peace and content
rnent reigned The door stood wide open.
and as it faced the south the monday sun
pushed in-clear to the opposite wall-a
broad band of mellow light, wildly telling of
the glory he was shedding where roof nor
shade checked his genial glow. On the
smooth, hard, ashen floor, in the center of
this bright zone, sat matronly cat, giving
with tongue and paw dainty finishing touches
10 her morning toilet, and watching with
maternal pride kittenish game of hide and
seek on the front step Through the open
doorway came the seif-complacent cackling
of hens, celebrating their latest additions &c
.heir nests, and the exultant call of cock tc
his feathared harem to come admire and par
take of some especially fat worm which he
had lust unearthed Farther away speckled
Guinea chickens were clamoring their salts
faction at the Improvement in the weather.
Still farther, gentle tinklings limited of peace
fully browsing sheep
Inside the house punches of sweet smelling
medicinal herbs, hanging against the wall TO
dry, made the air heavy with their otiors.
Aunt Dehbv WAS at work near the bright
zone of sun rays, spinning yarn with big
wheel" She held in one hand long. slender
roll Of caried wool and in the other short
stick, with which she turned the wheel Set
ting it TO whrling with a long sweep of the
stick against spoke she would walk back
ward while the roll was twisted out into q
long. thin thread, and then walk forward as
the yarn was wound upon the spindle When
she walked backward the spindle hummed
sharply. when she came forward IT droned
There was stately rhythm in both. to
which her footsteps and graceful sway Of
body kept time, and all blended harmoniousiy
with the camp meeting melody she was softly
singing
Jesus. nv cross have taken.
All IN leave and follow Thee:
Naked. poor, despised. forsaken,
Thou from henc.. my all shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition
All I've sought, or hoped. or known.
Yet how rich is my condition
Ciod end Heaven still my own
A world Of memories of joyous past I'M
fecked by single one of the miseries Of the
present. crowded in upon Harry on the wings
of this well remembered tune II was g
favorite hymn at the Methodist church in
Sardis, and the last time he had heard it was
when be had accompanied Rachel to the
church to ATTEND services conducted by g
noted evangelist
All. Rachel what of her.
He had not thought of her since a swift,
recollection of her words al the parting scene
on the piazza had come TO spur up his falter-
ing resolution, as the regiment advanced VI
the side of Wildcat Now one bitter thought
of how useless all that he had gone through
with the day before was to rehablitate bin
self in her good opinion was speedily chased
from his mind by the still bitterer one Of the
contempt she must feel for him, did she but
know of his present abject prostration.
After ALL might not the occurrences of yes
terday be but the memories of a nightmare
They seemed too unreal for probability Per.
haps he was Just recovering consciousness
after the delirium of fever.
The walnut sticks in the fireplace popped as
sharply as pistols, ard he trembied from head
to foot
Heavens, lin bigger coward than ever,
he said bitterly, and turning himself pain
fully in bed, be fixed his eyes upon the wall
II was led to believe" he continued, that
after | had once been under fire, | would
cease TO dread it, Now, it seems to me more
dreadful than | ever imagined it to be"
Aunt Debby's wheel hummed and droned
still louder, but her pleasant tones rode on
the cadences like an Eolian harp in rising
wind:
Man may trouble ard distress me,
T will b't drive IRE TO Thy breast
Life with trials hari mcy press me;
Heaven will bring me sweetsr resL
O. It's uoi ir grief to harm me.
While ThV love is left to ne
o. 7 were not in JOY to charm me.
Were that JOY unmixed with Thee.
he wondered weakly why there were M
monasteries in this land and age to serve q:
narbors of refuge for those who shrank from
the fearfulness of war
He turned over again YEARLY, and Aunt
Debby, looking toward him, encountered hi:
wide open eyes.
Eyer awake, air YET" she said kindly
"Hope didn't disturb you. ] wuz tryin' tel
make ez little noise CT possible
No, you didn't rouse me. It's hard for m,
TO sleep in daylight, even when fatigued, as
am
"Ef We want ter git up now" she said. stop
ping the wheel by pressing stick against c
spoke and laying the roll in her hand upon
the wheel head, all bev some breakfast ful
We in a jiffy. Ye kin rise an dress while
run down ter the spring arter fresh bucket
O water
She covered her head with a "slat sun bon
net" which she took from n peg in the wall
lifted a cedar WATERFALL from a shelf sup
ported by other long pegs, poured its con
tents into large cast-iron teakettle swinging
over the fire, and whisked out of the door
Presently the notes of her hymn mingled il